IDL tracks and monitors news coverage of our activities and significant events that may impact our operations, recapping the coverage in this newsletter.
This publication also details IDL's social media posts for the week, keeping stakeholders and our front-line customer service staff apprised of our public-facing communications.
‘Off-the-grid’ home, recently auctioned Cougar Island land on the market for $3.7 million
Idaho Statesman, 9-29-22
A 2.3-acre parcel of state-managed land recently sold in an auction went back on the market just over one week later, this time with the “one-of-a-kind” residence that sits on the parcel included.
On Sept. 14, Bellevue attorney Jim Laski was the sole bidder for the state-owned piece of Cougar Island, the largest island in McCall’s Payette Lake. He bid just over $2 million for the parcel, which was the assessed value of the land.
No one else bid on the other four Cougar Island parcels or the island as a whole. Laski has leased the land he bought since 2013, and he owns the 3-bed, 3-bath home, which was built in 1997. It wasn’t immediately clear when Laski purchased the home.
Four of five state-owned lots at Payette Lake’s Cougar Island fail to sell at auction
Idaho Capital Sun, 9-29-22
Valley County commissioners to discuss options for partnering with state at Oct. 17 meeting.
When Idaho state officials auctioned off an exclusive island nestled on a mountain lake in the town of McCall earlier this month, only one of the five parcels of land sold.
Now that most of Cougar Island, situated on Payette Lake, failed to sell, a Valley County commissioner who opposed auctioning off the state-owned island wants to discuss ways for the county to partner with the state to protect remaining parcels.
Commissioner Sherry Maupin said the commission will meet Oct. 17 to discuss options the county may have for partnering or collaborating with the state on the remaining land on Cougar Island.
“I believe once it doesn’t sell at auction, it opens what they are able to do with the county,” Maupin said in a telephone interview.
88-Year-Old Dead After Accident At Fire Scene On The Top Of Kettenbauch Grade
DailyFly, 9-29-22
On September 28 at about 2:00 p.m. the Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office was advised there was a controlled burn at the top of Kettenbauch Grade that had gotten out of control.
The fire was said to be headed for the timber that was in the area. After arriving on the scene deputies learned there had been an ATV accident involving 88-year-old Ralph Steigers of Culdesac.
Steigers was found deceased at the fire scene.
Idaho Department of Lands, Nez Perce County Fire, Culdesac Fire, Lewiston Paramedics, Culdesac QRU, and the Nez Perce Tribal Police responded to the scene to assist with fire suppression and the crash.
Midnight fire breaks out North of Ola, Idaho
KBOI2, 9-29-22
BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — A wildfire started last night, dubbed the Midnight fire, just North of Ola in Gem County. The fire is reported to be 49-acres as of this afternoon in challenging terrain. Fire crews from Idaho Department of Lands, Gem County Fire Protection District #2 are aggressively working to control the fire.
No structures are threatened as of now according to the IDL, however if evacuations become necessary they will be ordered by the Gem County Sheriff's Office.
Fire managers are expecting to have containment by 8:00 p.m. Friday as of this report.
No Overnight Growth Reported on Kettenbach Fire in Nez Perce County
Big Country News, 9-29-22
**Fire Update (9/29/22)**
As of 10:30 a.m. Thursday morning, the Kettenbach Fire burning on private land approximately 2-3 miles north of Culdesac remains at an estimated 65 acres.
According to the Idaho Department of Lands, the fire is burning at a low intensity and mostly burning in grass. Two engine crews remain on site monitoring fire activity. The fire area is said to have received significant precipitation Wednesday night with more rain likely Thursday.
No structures are threatened.
Carey named ‘Capital for a Day’
KIFI, 9-29-22
BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) – Governor Brad Little’s first “Capital for a Day” event in more than a year will be held in Carey on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Blaine County Fairgrounds.
Officials joining Governor Little include:
Idaho State Controller Brandon Woolf
Idaho Division of Financial Management Administrator Alex Adams
Idaho Department of Commerce Director Tom Kealey
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Director Jess Byrne
Idaho Department of Fish and Game Director Ed Schriever
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen
Idaho Department of Labor Director Jani Revier
Idaho Department of Lands Director Dustin Miller
Idaho Department of Water Resources Bureau Chief Shelley Keen
Idaho State Department of Agriculture Deputy Director Chanel Tewalt
Idaho State Department of Education Chief Deputy Superintendent Peter McPherson
Idaho State Police Deputy Director Lt. Colonel Bill Gardine
Idaho Department of Lands firefighters were battling blazes on two fronts Wednesday.
The Craigmont Wilkins Gulch Fire, located about 9 miles west of Grangeville, was estimated at 490 acres Wednesday with 35% containment as of 5 p.m. A few structures were threatened but no evacuations or road closures had been ordered, according to a news release from the Idaho Department of Lands.
The fire was first reported Tuesday at 2:18 p.m. and is burning patches of timber toward Rock Creek canyon between Grangeville and the Salmon River.
There are 56 personnel working on the fire with six engines, one helicopter and one bulldozer. The origin of the fire has not been determined.
The 65-acre Kettenbach Fire, located 2 to 3 miles northeast of Culdesac, was reported at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. Four engines, two water tenders, one Type 1 helicopter, one dozer, one hand crew and a Type 3 Incident Commander were on scene or en route. No structures were threatened and rain was expected over the fire areas Wednesday night or today.
Wildfires burning near Grangeville, Culdesac
Lewiston Tribune, 9-29-22
Idaho Department of Lands firefighters were battling blazes on two fronts Wednesday.
The Craigmont Wilkins Gulch Fire, located about 9 miles west of Grangeville, was estimated at 490 acres Wednesday with 35% containment as of 5 p.m. A few structures were threatened but no evacuations or road closures had been ordered, according to a news release from the Idaho Department of Lands.
The fire was first reported Tuesday at 2:18 p.m. and is burning patches of timber toward Rock Creek canyon between Grangeville and the Salmon River.
There are 56 personnel working on the fire with six engines, one helicopter and one bulldozer. The origin of the fire has not been determined.
The 65-acre Kettenbach Fire, located 2 to 3 miles northeast of Culdesac, was reported at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. Four engines, two water tenders, one Type 1 helicopter, one dozer, one hand crew and a Type 3 Incident Commander were on scene or en route. No structures were threatened and rain was expected over the fire areas Wednesday night or today.
Illegal dumping near Mountain Home threatens recreation on endowment land
KIFI, 9-28-22
MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho (KIFI) – Two trailers and two pickup beds were filled with trash after Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) cleaned up endowment land near Mountain Home, a popular site for trucks, recreational vehicles and target shooting.
People have illegally dumped refrigerators, couches, mattresses, end tables and vacuum cleaners and other garbage on land used to support public education in Idaho rather than using the Mountain Home garbage transfer station.
This has been a problem over the past few years, but the amount of illegal dumping has continued to increase. Another growing problem is pickups and UTVs going off-road and creating unauthorized trails that causing erosion and other issues.
Idaho Department of Lands ramps up wildfire investigation, collaboration with partners; two arrested for arson on state lands
Wildland Fire News, 9-28-22
Idaho Department of Lands’ (IDL) collaboration with the Idaho State Fire Marshal’s Office and law enforcement on alleged arson fires recently resulted in two arrests with another pending.
This month, the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Priest River man accused of multiple counts of arson. Earlier last month the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Challis man for arson on the Quinn Fire. An arrest is pending on two other wildfires under IDL protection.
IDL investigates all wildfires under its protection. So far this year, the agency investigated 226 wildfires and of those, 102 are under investigation as human-caused.
During the past two years the agency has worked to modernize its fire program.
IDL ramps up wildfire investigation, collaboration with partners; two arrested for arson on state lands
Idaho County Free Press, 9-28-22
Idaho Department of Lands’ (IDL) collaboration with the Idaho State Fire Marshall’s Office and law enforcement on alleged arson fires recently resulted in two arrests with another pending.
This month, the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Priest River man accused of multiple counts of arson. Earlier last month the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Challis man for arson on the Quinn Fire. An arrest is pending on two other wildfires under IDL protection.
IDL investigates all wildfires under its protection. So far this year, the agency investigated 226 wildfires and of those, 102 are under investigation as human-caused.
During the past two years the agency has worked to modernize its fire program. While IDL has always retained a few fire investigators on staff, its new investigation program is led by a dedicated manager and includes about 20 other IDL employees who completed specialized fire investigation training.
Containment of 490 Acre Wilkins Gulch Fire Burning Outside Grangeville Grows to 35%
**Fire Update (9/28/22 @ 4:40 P.M.)**
GRANGEVILLE - Containment of the Wilkins Gulch Fire burning approximately nine miles outside of Grangeville has increased to 35% as of Wednesday afternoon, up from 15% containment that was reported earlier in the day.
According to the Idaho Department of Lands, the fire remains at approximately 490 acres in size, with fire activity described as "smoldering and creeping."
A few structures remain at risk, however no evacuations are anticipated.
Rain is expected to fall in the area of the fire Wednesday night or Thursday.
**FIRE UPDATE (9/28/22)**
GRANGEVILLE - A wildfire first discovered Tuesday afternoon approximately nine miles outside of Grangeville has grown to approximately 490 acres in size and is considered 15% contained, according to an update provided Wednesday morning by the Idaho Department of Lands.
The Wilkins Gulch Fire, which is reportedly burning towards Rock Creek, is now burning mostly in small timber patches in the canyon.
There are no evacuations or road closures associated with this fire.
Fire units were first dispatched to the fire at approximately 2:18 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.
Fire Crews Respond to 65 Acre Wildfire on Kettenbach Grade North of Culdesac Wednesday Afternoon
Big Country News, 9-28-22
CULDESAC - On Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at approximately 2:30 p.m., Idaho Department of Lands fire units were dispatched to the area of Kettenbach Grade approximately 2 to 3 miles northeast of Culdesac for reports of a wildland fire.
As of 4:40 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, the fire is estimated to be approximately 65 acres in size. No structures are threatened at this time.
Four engines, two water tenders, one Type 1 helicopter, one dozer, one hand crew, and a Type 3 Incident Commander are on the scene or enroute.
This article will continue to be updated as additional information becomes available.
Officials seek possible starter of Idaho’s largest wildfire
Associate Press, 9-28-22
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Authorities are searching for whoever left an unextinguished campfire they say led to the largest wildfire in Idaho this year that has drawn hundreds of firefighters, three of whom died.
Wildfire officials said Wednesday that the 200-square-mile (520-square-kilometer) Moose Fire in east-central Idaho near the town of Salmon that started in mid-July is only about half contained.
The U.S. Forest Service said interviews by its special agents and law enforcement officers as well as forensic processing of where the fire originated identified an unattended campfire as the source.
The agency said the fire began in a dispersed camping area between the Salmon River Road and the main Salmon River, across from the Moose Creek drainage. It then spread from grass and shrubs to forests at higher elevations, officials said, eventually forcing the evacuations of residents near the town of Salmon.
GRANGEVILLE — Idaho Department of Lands crews responded to a 150-acre wildfire about 9 miles west of Grange-ville in Wilkins Gulch on Tuesday afternoon.
The fire, reported at 2:18 p.m., was burning westward toward Rock Creek and was 0% contained as of 5 p.m., according to a news release from the department.
A few structures were threatened but no evacuations were immediately ordered. There were 12 personnel on the scene, including three engines and two helicopters. Additional firefighting equipment and personnel had been ordered.
The fire had 4- to 6-foot flame lengths and was burning quickly through grass, brush and wheat stubble. Temperatures in the area were in the 80s.
No further information was immediately available.
Fire Crews Battling New Start Wildfire in Wilkins Gulch, Approximately Nine Miles Outside of Grangeville
Big Country News, 9-27-22
GRANGEVILLE - On Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at approximately 2:18 p.m., fire units were dispatched to a new start wildfire in Wilkins Gulch, approximately nine miles outside of Grangeville. The fire, which is burning toward Rock Creek, was last estimated to be 150 acres in size.
As of 4:30 p.m. the fire was considered 0% contained. An update from the IDL stated that the fire is burning quickly through grass, brush and wheat stubble.
A total of 12 fire resources are on scene, including two IDL engines (Craigmont & Kamiah), 1 USFS engine, and two helicopters. An additional 60 personnel have been requested to assist, including five engines, a bulldozer and two air tankers.
As of Tuesday afternoon, a few structures are threatened, but no evacuation orders are in place. At the time of this writing, there are no restrictions or road closures associated with this fire.
Illegal dumping near Mountain Home threatens public access to endowment land
KTVB, 9-27-22
BOISE, Idaho — "Pick up after yourself."
The line has been muttered by mothers around the world and now, the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) is asking the public to do the same.
The IDL loaded up two trailers and two picked beds with trash found on endowment land near Mountain Home.
"Only the imagination can describe the depths of damages that's done to endowment land, unfortunately," Idaho Department of Lands Policy and Communications Chief, Scott Phillips said. "We have folks who do illegal dumping instead of going to the landfill or the transfer station."
The Idaho Department of Lands manages about 2.5 million acres of endowment land - land the federal government gifted to Idaho at statehood.
The land is used by IDL for leases and harvesting timber. The revenue generated through the land is used to support government resources.
"This land is located in every Idaho county and exists to generate revenue for its beneficiaries, such as public schools, our colleges, universities, and our penitentiary system," Phillips said. "This land and the money it generated helps save tax dollars because it means that good, hardworking Idahoans have to pay less taxes because we're on hand to generate revenue to help provide funding for those vital government services."
The endowment land is also a popular site for recreational vehicles and target shooting.
However, the land is now in danger of being restricted or closed to public access if the illegal dumping does not stop.
"After all, recreation is a secondary activity on endowment land, it exists to earn money for the beneficiaries," Phillips said. "As long as folks are behaving themselves and taking care of that property, we welcome them to endowment land, we want them to use it, but at the same time, we want them to respect it."
Phillips said the IDL has been seeing illegal dumping in endowment land all over the state. It has gotten more common as Idaho's population has grown.
The majority of people respect the endowment land, but not everyone.
"Unfortunately, it's just a few bad actors that run the risk of closing down access to endowment land for all," Phillips said.
To respect the land, Phillips turn to that age-old Boy Scout principle, "Leave no Trace."
"Anytime that recreational impact damages resources, we have to make hard decisions. That's why we need the public's help," Phillips said. "What we need is when people are recreating in the outdoors, make sure when you take it in, to pack it out. Don't leave garbage, stay on designated trails and roads. In general, be a good steward of the land, treat it like it's your own."
If you see someone illegally dumping on endowment land, Phillips said to hold them accountable by calling your local sheriff to report it.
"Really, we view the public as partners when it comes to keeping endowment land open for recreation," Phillips said.
The Idaho Department of Lands is also looking for any community groups who are interested in adopting the endowment land near Mountain Home. If you are interested, call their Boise office.
Illegal Dumping Threatening Recreation on Endowment Land in Southern Idaho
Big Country News, 9-27-22
MOUNTAIN HOME - The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) says they are considering restricting large vehicle access and target shooting on endowment land near Mountain Home, ID due to repeated abuse of the land.
According to the IDL, two trailers and two pickup beds were filled with trash after IDL staff cleaned up the endowment land near Mountain Home, a popular site for trucks, recreational vehicles and target shooting.
People have illegally dumped refrigerators, couches, mattresses, end tables and vacuum cleaners and other garbage on land rather than using the Mountain Home garbage transfer station.
IDL considers closing endowment land west of Mountain Home due to dumping...
Idaho Press. 9-27-22
The Idaho Department of Lands is considering closing a large swath of state endowment land west of Mountain Home to public use for large vehicle access and target shooting, due to excessive trash-dumping and off-trail driving that's causing erosion and other damage.
The area is popular for trucks, RVs and target-shooting, the department reports, but increasingly has become a major dumping site. Closing the land is an action of last resort that IDL says it hopes to avoid.
“To continue to keep this land open to recreation, IDL needs help from the public,” David Claiborne, president of the Idaho State ATV Association, said in an IDL news release. “Those who enjoy this land need to help protect it by taking their garbage home and staying on designated roads and trails.”
This Boise-area public land could close to shooting, ATVs amid uptick in trash dumping
Idaho Statesman, 9-27-22
The Idaho Department of Lands is considering closing a 20,000-acre parcel of public land to target shooting and motorized vehicle recreation due to an increase in trash dumping and vehicle damage, officials said in a news release Tuesday.
The department, which manages 2.4 million acres of endowment lands that help fund public education, said the parcel west of Mountain Home has become a dumping ground for items like refrigerators, couches, mattresses, vacuum cleaners and other trash.
“Due to the abuse of this land, IDL is considering restricting large vehicle access and target shooting,” the news release said. “Closing the land is an action of last resort and something IDL hopes to avoid.”
The navigation buoys, meeting Coast Guard standards for Aids to Navigation, help boaters identify the 200-foot no-wake zone specified in Kootenai County ordinance to protect swimmers, fishers and non-motorized craft that recreate near the shore.
The new navigation buoys are positioned within sight of each other, marking the edge of the zone where the maximum speed is 5 mph and wakes must not exceed 4 inches.
In addition to navigation buoys, one hazard buoy has been installed in Mokins Bay to alert those enjoying lake recreation in the bay of the dangerous sandbar hidden below the surface during the high-water boating season.
Idaho Department of Lands issues encroachment permits for navigation buoys to authorized entities like the Hayden Lake Watershed Improvement District, Kootenai County, and other state or federal agencies. This set of buoys completes the 33-buoy permit issued to the watershed improvement district in cooperation with county agency stakeholders.
A campfire became Idaho’s largest wildfire this year. Are human-caused blazes surging?
Idaho Statesman, 9-26-22
Despite record-high temperatures in the Treasure Valley in August and scorching summer heat across Idaho, the state saw fewer wildfires and fewer acres burned so far this summer compared with the annual average of the previous decade.
Data showed 937 wildfires have burned 369,163 acres of federally managed land in Idaho so far this year, with about one week left in the typical wildfire season. According to figures from the Boise-based National Interagency Fire Center, Idaho has had an average 1,172 fires annually in the last decade, with an average of about 600,000 acres burned each year.
It’s the latest in several years of relatively mild fire seasons in Idaho after a record 1.7 million acres burned in 2012, and more than 600,000 acres burned in 2017 and 2018. But human-caused fires had a significant impact this year. The state’s largest fire, which has killed multiple firefighters, accounted for more than one-third of the total acreage burned in 2022.
CREWS CONTAINED MOST FIRES EARLY ON
Harvey said Department of Lands added additional firefighting positions this year and has a budget request submitted to add more firefighters and fire engines next year. The boost in resources meant crews were able to attack fires much faster this year, resulting in a drastic decrease in the number of acres burned, Harvey said.
“All of those resources are targeted to cut down on our response time and targeted to our desire to catch every fire at 10 acres or less,” he said.
Harvey said firefighters in the Hells Canyon area were able to contain fires that “should’ve been multi-million dollar incidents.
“They caught them all within a few hundred acres,” Harvey said. “That, to me, is very impressive.”
The Department of Lands plans to staff an office near Idaho Falls to add additional firefighting support in eastern Idaho.
“We’re anticipating seeing another increase in the number of (small acreage fire) catches that we have,” Harvey said.
Cougar Island lot and home goes up for sale on tight timeframe
BoiseDev, September 25, 2022
The saga of Cougar Island in Payette Lake near McCall continues. Just weeks after an auction for land on the island concluded, the lone home on Cougar is again listed for sale.
Jim Laski of Bellevue, Idaho, was the only bidder for land on the island at auction earlier this month – snapping up state endowment land under a home he owns on the island.
Laski leased the land from the Idaho Department of Lands endowment, but owned the structure – the house. The state has been working to auction off the so-called cottage sites around Payette Lake in recent years under a process called Voluntary Auction for Ownership. Laski asked the state to put his cottage site on the block, which opened up the opportunity to unite the land and house under one owner.
As wildfires become common, Idaho’s smoke season becomes a public health hazard
Idaho Capital Sun, 9-23-22
The Moose Fire crests the ridge west of Salmon on Sept. 7. The human-caused fire has burned more than 125,000 acres since starting July 17. (Courtesy of National Wildfire Coordinating Group Incident Information System)
Ethan Sims and Wesley Pidcock know what to expect when fire season arrives. As doctors who specialize in helping people breathe, they see what happens when wildfire smoke spreads into communities throughout Idaho.
Every time there is a spike in the air quality index — a rating for hazardous air — there is a spike in hospital visits, they said.
Final Incident Update: Midnight Fire 100% Contained, Fire Crew Preparing to Demobilize
Ola, Idaho – Idaho Department of Lands wildland firefighters held the Midnight fire at 49.3 acres, achieving 100% containment last night. The fire occurred approximately six miles north of Ola and roughly five miles east of 3rd Fork Road.
We harvest and plant trees to support Idaho’s public schools and other beneficiaries. Learn why: https://loom.ly/iN5Owig
On 11/1 we’ll sell at auction 2.53 million board feet of timber and 1,600 cedar poles at our Priest Lake Supervisory Area office in Coolin. Learn more about the Resurrection Cedar timber sale at https://loom.ly/IMzhhLU
Sign up to receive text or email notifications about our upcoming timber sales: https://loom.ly/RAKIwcw
The Boise State University OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute hosts Shared Stewardship - a key to Leading Idaho’s healthy forest future. The lock is already turning. See the panelists and presenters from today’s education session in Boise.
Introducing Nate Fisher Policy Advisor, Governor Brad Little’s office, Scott Corkill, Idaho Department of Lands, Linda Jackson, Payette National Forest, Dani Southard, National Forest Foundation, Josh Newman, Boise National Forest, Ara Andrea, Idaho Shared Stewardship Coordinator, Jeff Lau, North Idaho Shared Stewardship Coordinator, and Lynn Oliver, South Idaho Shared Stewardship Coordinator.
